Flathead Lakers Sunday • • 117th Anniversary of Treaty
Elect Fouty
To Board
Poison—In a surprise move last Saturday, the Flathead Lakers elected an enrolled tribal member to their board of directors.
Robert Fouty, a Poison logging contractor, was seated on nine man board during the organization's annual meeting in Poison. The Laker's, founded during the '50's to protect Flathead Lake's environment, have lately been openly critical of tribal policies including the Recreational Use Permit.
In May, the board of directors of the organization requested their members not to purchase permits for use of the southern half of Flathead Lake. They cited a recent federal court decision which denied the Leech Lake, Minnesota Chippewa's the right to set hunting and fishing regulations for non-member users of their reservation.
Fouty, who joins biologist John Tibbs and attorney C. B. McNeil on the board, says he will attempt to redirect the energies of the organization toward the conservation of the lake. He said that among his plans for this summer is a complete survey of septic tanks on the lake.
One hundred and seventeen years ago this Sunday Chief Victor of the Salish, Chief Michelle of the Kootenai and Chief Alexander of the Pend d' Orielles signed the Hellgate Treaty.
At the time of the signing of the 1855 treaty, the three tribes took pride in the fact that none had spilled a drop of white blood and they were regarded by white explorers and missionaries as among the most friendly and
helpful tribes in the west. The had no reason to expect perf idity from the whiteman they had welcomed since Lewis and Clark came through half a century earlier. They expected from the (Continued on page 10)
Published By The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Dixon, Montana 59831
(Charlo)
(Koostahtah)
CHAR—KOOSTA
Salish, Kootenai, Pend #d Orielles Tribes
Volume 2. Number 5 Moon of Cayotie — 14 PRICE 10c
Montana Power To Pay $H And A Quarter Million By August
Washington—The Montana company would have no difficulty in paying the bill before
-The Montana Power Company has received a bill from the Federal Power Commission for $11,249,913.81. . .payable to the tribe anytime before the ides of August.
The figure, announced Wednesday by Tribal Attorney Richard Baenan, was handed over the the utility Tuesday for payment within 30 days.
Joe McElwain, Vice President of Montana Power, said his
Malatare Seated After Council Double Reverse
Dixon—Tnree weeKs ot hot controversy over a successor to the late Tribal Councilman Hugh "Jumbo" Grenier ended last Friday with the seating of onetime committeeman for Optional Withdrawal, John E. Malatare.
The 45-year old Arlee gas station owner, who had narrowly won a special election June 25, was appointed and sworn in during the Quarterly Council meeting.
The issue boiled over during the July 7 meeting when Vic Cordier angerily accused the council of violating the trust of the people by invalidating the results of the special June election. Councilman Tom "Bearhead" Swaney agreed
witn Cordier saying: "I fee!there was prejudice on the part of the council against Malatare, and it was an error on our part to invalidate the entire election because of a violation in one district."
The week before the council, on a motion by Swaney, had passed a resolution to invalidate the results of the vote due to an elections code violation involving the relationship between precinct judge Pete Pierre and candidate Isaac Richard Pierre. The motion to invalidate the
entire election followed a move by Councilman Fred Whitworth, also of Arlee, to deny Malatare his victory on account of the polling violation and award the chair to the winner of the Arlee
the end of July.
The utility was denied an appeal by the United States Supreme Court earlier this month after the Court of Appeals had found in favor of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. The order revised the payment schedule for the use of the dam from $238,375 to $950,000 retroactive to 1959. The Appeals Court had reduced the rate of simple interest from six to four percent in their judgement.
According to a memorandum filed by the tribe's attorney Richard Baenen, Washington, D. C, the accumulated difference plus interest ammounted to $11,841,440 by May of this year.
precinct, Joe Wheeler.
The utility will owe the tribe $711,625 for each year since 1959. The four percent interest comes to about $28,465 per year.
The original FPC order of October 4, 1967 stay of judgement resulted in a four year lag in federal courts and a reduction of interest to four per cent. The lag, according to Baenans figures, has cost the tribe over $500,000 in interest.
Wheeler Acquitted on Firecracker Charge
Poison—Tuesday, July 11 may The sea-saw battle over the have been the week after the vacant seat on the council got Fourth of July, but there were hot during the two council still fireworks going off at the meetings following the special Lake County Courthouse, elections but the roots of the The Wheeler's went to court controversy acutally started over alleged fireworks sales back in 1935. violations. Two of them, Joe and
—The Constitution and Bylaws Arlene, walked out scot free and of the Confederated Salish and the others, Dorothy Clinken-Kootenai Tribes specifically beard and Margaret Wheeler, gives the Tribal Council the are appealing misdemeanor authority to appoint successors convictions. Both were fined to vacated seats. The council, $200.
during a series of district Mrs. Clinkenbeard and Miss meetings earlier this year. Wheeler were both found guilty (Continued on next page) (Contifced on page 2)